Coppell still frustrated by transfer window

Reading manager Steve Coppell admits he will be delighted to see the back of one of his footballing bugbears - the transfer deadline - until January at least.

The former England winger has never been a fan of the transfer regulations
that allow players to be bought and sold only when the 'windows' are open,
with the first of the current campaign due to shut at midnight tonight.

Coppell has already turned down a £4million bid from West Ham for left-back
Nicky Shorey and was hopeful the London club would leave it at that having made
an initial approach he regarded as 'nigh on derisory'.

He said: 'In all my days as a football manager no-one - FIFA, UEFA, the FA or
whoever - has ever been able to explain to me the advantages of the transfer
window.

'It is part of football now but it is an artificial construction that only
creates a feeding frenzy among the media.'

Coppell was also annoyed that the Hammers - who ironically are tomorrow's
visitors to the Madejski Stadium - had made their bid for England international
Shorey public.

He said: 'I must admit I long to go back to the days when a phone call would
be made and business was done in private. It seems now that if you make an offer
that gives you the right for it to be discussed in the public domain and we have
to respond.'

The situation has been further compounded by an understanding that Shorey, who
rejected the chance to extend and improve his current Reading contract, is keen
to make the move to Upton Park.

Coppell, who has seen his player capped twice for England since June,
admitted: 'West Ham was his boyhood club so he has got an affinity with them.
As far as I am concerned he has always been happy here but every player has
moments when they think of where they might be.'

One man who has also been the centre of speculation is winger Seol Ki-Hyeon,
who has been linked with a move to Fulham, who have South Korean sponsors.

But Coppell insisted: 'Again he has been linked but there has to be a
dialogue before anything can happen and there hasn't been one between Fulham and
ourselves regarding Seol. There has been no official offer from anybody.'

Shorey and skipper Graeme Murty are expected to return from injury in time for
tomorrow's clash, with Reading having won the corresponding fixture 6-0 last
season.

But Coppell insisted: 'Everything about it is different. It will be a
motivation factor without doubt but from our point of view it is forgotten
about. It is no advantage and we look at this game in isolation.'